Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons travel from the brain to the spinal cord and then to the muscles throughout the body. The continuous degeneration of these motor neurons leads the victim to their death. ALS can strike anyone, but is not contagious. ALS is responsible for nearly two deaths per hundred-thousand people. Approximately 5600 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year. The typical life expectancy for a carrier of ALS is two to five years; only 20% live past the maximum life expectancy of five years. According to the ALS Association, they have committed more than $67 million to find an effective treatment and cure for ALS. A walk for ALS fundraiser was held in the year 2000; it raised more than $159 million for research. Through public outreach, media relations, and the internet, the Association raises awareness for ALS continuously. The ALS Ice Bucket challenge was created to raise awareness for the disease through social media such as Facebook and Instragram. To participate in the Ice Bucket challenge one must fill a bucket full of ice and pour it on themselves or someone else, then they challenge someone else to do this. They have 24 hours to complete this challenge, or they have to donate $100 to the Association for research. By completing this challenge, awareness is raised throughout social media and gets the younger generations involved.

 

Mr. Wolfenden was interviewed by the Packer Press journalism crew about the challenge. Mr. Wolfenden believes that the Ice Bucket challenge is for a good cause, he says that the Ice Bucket challenge is helping raise awareness for ALS. Mr. Wolfenden performed the challenge himself and challenged the Largo high school principal, Mr. Brad Finkbiner as well. Mr. Wolfenden said he specifically chose Mr. Finkbiner for the ALS Ice Bucket challenge because of the public nature of the challenge. Mr. Wolfenden performed his challenge in front of a whole class of 9th graders. He thought it was important for them to see their Assistant Principal’s “fun side.” Mr. Finkbiner chose to fulfill his commitment by doing it during the first home game against Northeast high school. Mr. Wolfenden thought it was fun to pour the water and ice all over his boss, in front of the whole school.

 

Mr. Finkbiner believes that the challenge has done a lot for the disease by making it viral and raising awareness for the disease. Mr. Finkbiner said he was caught by surprise when he was challenged, but he was not surprised that Mr. Wolfenden would challenge him. Mr. Finkbiner accepted the challenge mainly because he thought that it was important for the student body to see that their principal actually wants to be involved and show the students that he’s not always serious, just serious when he needs to be. He said that he was not nervous when he did it in front of the whole school at the varsity football game. Mr. Finkbiner believes that “Largo high school wants to get him involved so the kids can see him in a different light, just to show the kids that he is a human being trying to give the Largo high school students the best educational opportunities that he possibly can.” He wants to gain the respect and trust of the Largo community as a new principal.